Howard Dilworth Edwards

Howard Dilworth Edwards was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 5, 1921 and moved to his wife, Tina's, hometown of Charleston, SC in 1957. He was the son of George Dixon Edwards and Pauline Dilworth Edwards. Howard had two brothers, George and Richard, and a sister, Mary.

Howard graduated from the Choate School in Wallingford, CT and was a fifth-generation graduate of Princeton University (class of 1943). His seventh great-grandfather, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, was Princeton's second President. With the advent of World War II, Howard pursued accelerated graduation from Princeton in order to enter naval midshipman training. He served aboard a Destroyer Escort, the USS Baker, for four years and was instrumental (as the ASW/Communications Officer) in sinking a German submarine (U-boat 233) off the coast of Nova Scotia on July 5, 1944. At the conclusion of the war, he entered Pitt Law School in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated in 1949.

Howard was a Trust Officer at the South Carolina National Bank (now Wells Fargo) for 27 years and head of the Trust Department for 15 years. He was President of the Rotary Club of Charleston from 1973-1974, during which time he, Ted Stern, and Malcolm Haven had the foresight to start a community foundation to serve the Trident area. Howard served as the first President of this organization, now known as the Coastal Community Foundation. The initial grant of $9000 has grown to over $180 million for community good. He was also the Coastal Community Foundation's longest serving President, from 1974-1982.

At First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, Howard was elected Deacon twice and served three times as an Elder. He was also President of the Church Street Foundation, Chairman of the Board of the Gibbes Museum of Art, and President of the Fathers' Association of Porter-Gaud School. He was President of the South Carolina Bankers Association from 1968-1969 and 12th President of the Estate Planning Council of Charleston.

Howard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Clementina "Tina" Rutledge Edwards; three children, Clementina "Tina" Rutledge Edwards Mayland and son-in-law, Lawrence Myles Mayland, of Seabrook Island, SC, Oliver Rutledge Edwards of Atlanta, GA, and Howard Dilworth Edwards, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Anne Hanahan Edwards, of Mt. Pleasant, SC; and four grandchildren: Christopher Patrick Edwards, Dana Rutledge Underwood, Bryant Barrow Edwards and Benjamin Rutledge Edwards.

His funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Magnolia Cemetery. Friends may call at the residence between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tuesday. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Memorial Fund of First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401 or to the Howard D. Edwards Endowment Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation, 635 Rutledge Avenue, Suite 201, Charleston, SC, 29403.